Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal: Caterpillar to build plant

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal confirmed that Caterpillar plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Georgia, a project company officials say will create more than 4,200 U.S. jobs.

Caterpillar said in a statement Friday morning that its planned one-million-square-foot-facility near Athens is expected to directly employ 1,400 workers once it's fully operational.

Company officials said they estimate the project will create another 2,800 full-time jobs in the U.S. among suppliers and at other companies.

Deal said in a statement that Georgia's business climate offers the logistics, workforce, speed and efficiency that global industries such as Caterpillar are looking for. At a Friday morning news conference at the Capitol, Deal described the project as the largest growth of new jobs in Georgia since a sprawling Kia Motors manufacturing facility was built.